Off-roading in Florida combines an appreciation for our natural environment and a challenge for our vehicles that we take pride in. Now more than ever, off-road trail riders are recognizing the need for more trail riders to be aware of ways we can all do better on the trails in Florida. Trail leaders need to know the Tread Lightly Principles and share and demonstrate them with their riders.

 

One way, in Florida, that the Tread Lightly principles are being highlighted is through The Florida Trail Team Challenge Event. The event is being held this year from October 25-27, 2024 in Tavares, FL at Ol’ Florida Off-Road Park.

 

The event benefits Tread Lightly through requiring every competitor (20-2 person teams) and strongly encouraging all its volunteers (60+) to take the Tread Lightly online training course, as well as the donation of any profits from the event being donated directly to Tread Lightly.

 

The Florida Trail Team Challenge began in 2018 with its first event being held in 2019. The event itself is an off-road endurance challenge. No more than 20 – 2 person teams compete to accumulate the most points by completing challenges throughout the weekend. The challenges include Precision Off-road Driving, Vehicle Recovery, Marksmanship, Navigation, Medical Aid and Mechanical Repair. The mindset of all competitors should be that they are a team that is off-roading through Florida with a self-sustaining vehicle, and enduring whatever surprises could happen along the way.

During the event, a Tread Lightly Master Trainer is on site to participate in hosting challenges as well as to see the Tread Lightly principles in action as the competitors are also tasked with collecting any trash they find on the trails during the event for additional points. There is also a challenge designed to benefit the off-road park to show their appreciation for hosting the event and last year that included making a new trail called “The Military Trail” within the park to remember our different Military Branches in the US, which was particularly poignant.

 

There are bragging rights for the winners, trophies for the top teams and many prizes donated by generous sponsors of the event. Competitors camp on-site in 10’ X 10’ spaces in their area and the Volunteers mostly camp onsite as well or in local hotels during the event. Volunteers also give of their time and efforts in officiating at the challenges, providing medical aid if needed and a full media team to take photos and videos before, during and after the event!

 

In years past, the competitors and volunteers tell us that they learned a lot about off-roading during the event, perhaps a new way to solve a problem during a challenge or that there are many ways to problem solve during a challenge.

 

At the end of the event, everyone is mostly dirty, sweaty, happy and filled with a sense of accomplishment at the challenges they have faced head-on!